K-P Assembly seeks higher Koto Power tariff

Lawmakers push for increased electricity rates, greater local revenue

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution to increase the electricity tariff for the Koto Hydropower Project in District Dir, aiming to boost the income of the local population.

The resolution was presented by treasury member Ubaidur Rehman. According to the resolution, the project was initiated with a budget of Rs14 billion but remains incomplete even after a decade. Despite generating 41 megawatts of electricity, it currently sells power to NEPRA at a low rate of Rs8.24 per unit, yielding an annual income of Rs1.7 billion. However, only 10% of this revenue—amounting to Rs170 million—is allocated to the district. The Assembly recommended that the provincial government provide electricity to District Dir residents at the same Rs8.24 per unit rate while selling the remaining electricity to the national grid. Additionally, the resolution proposed increasing the electricity tariff for NEPRA to Rs30 per unit and doubling the district's income share from 10% to 20%.

In another significant development, the K-P Assembly approved an amendment introducing severe penalties for drug-related offenses in educational institutions. The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Control of Narcotic Substances (Amendment) Bill was presented by Provincial Minister for Excise, Khaliqur Rehman. Opposition members withdrew their proposed amendments, allowing the bill to pass without opposition.

Under the new legislation, anyone caught with more than four kilograms of heroin will face life imprisonment, while possession of over six kilograms could result in either life imprisonment or the death penalty. This legislation is part of the government's broader efforts to intensify the crackdown on drugs and eliminate their presence in educational institutions, ensuring a safer learning environment for students.

During Monday's session, government departments struggled to provide satisfactory responses to several questions raised by lawmakers. Issues concerning water usage under the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) and the Chashma Right Bank Lift Canal were referred to standing committees due to vague and unsatisfactory replies from government officials. The session, chaired by Deputy Speaker Suraiya Bibi, saw Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) parliamentary leader Ahmed Karim Kundi questioning the province's share of water under the IRSA agreement and its distribution across K-P districts. He criticized the provincial government for neglecting K-P's rightful ownership of water, stating that the government was asleep while other provinces used its water without accountability. He further demanded an inquiry into the misleading response given by the department, suggesting that the matter be referred to the standing committee for a thorough investigation.

The House agreed, and the Deputy Speaker referred the matter to the standing committee for review.